Iowa MMJ serves the immigrant and refugee community across the state by providing free or low-cost immigration legal counsel and representation.  We hold regular monthly immigration legal clinics in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Storm Lake, Ottumwa, Columbus Junction, Marshalltown, and Decorah/Postville.  We assist people with family-based immigration; humanitarian programs including Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), asylum, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and U-visas; Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS); removal defense; and naturalization and citizenship.

Please call (515) 255-9809 for more information about our immigration legal  services or to make an appointment. 

Due to COVID-19, many of our regional clinics schedules have been changed.  We ask for your patience as we attempt to serve as many people from across the state of Iowa, while also protecting our clients’ and staff’s health.  

If you are a victim of domestic violence, or are applying for an initial DACA, or DACA renewal, please call anytime and be sure to mention why you are calling, as these cases are accepted outside of our normal clinics, and we may be able to make a faster appointment for you. 

If you are interested in applying for naturalization, and would like to take citizenship classes to prepare you for your naturalization process, the fastest way to make an appointment with us  is to call our partner organization Lutheran Services of Iowa at (515) 271-7473.  They can enroll you in classes and secure your appointment with us to screen, and if accepted, prepare and represent you in your naturalization application. 

 

Regional Legal Clinics

 

Iowa MMJ currently accepts clients through 7 regional clinics and various special projects.  

Our Regional Clinics are generally monthly events in which we see new clients from the geographical areas near the clinic sites.  Each of our clinic sites have one or two volunteer clinic coordinators who handle all logistics of the monthly clinic event.  We are very grateful to our volunteer clinic coordinators!  The regional clinic sites are:

• Des Moines

• Storm Lake

• Cedar Rapids

• Columbus Junction

• Ottumwa

• Decorah/Postville (these clinics are quarterly)

• Marshalltown

 

We take clients who are survivors of domestic violence outside of our regional clinics.  Survivors may contact us directly at our main office number 515-255-9809 for a screening appointment.  If you are a survivor, you may also connect to us through your Domestic Violence advocate. For more information, visit the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence. 

 

Naturalization Project 

 

Iowa MMJ partners with Lutheran Services of Iowa (LSI) to provide a comprehensive naturalization process.  Clients start the process with an intake with LSI by calling (515) 271.7473, then are given a legal pre-screening appointment with Iowa MMJ.  After clients complete a citizenship course given by LSI, we will assist clients in the preparation of their naturalization applications, and represent them through the process.  

 

 

Special Agreements 

 

Iowa MMJ is very happy to serve the community through special agreements with area agencies to provide immigration legal services to their constituents.  We currently have special agreements with MONSOON and EMBARC.  

 

Services Overview

 

We regularly represent people or assist in application preparations for the following types of cases:

• Family-based immigration, including petitions, adjustment of status, and consular processing

• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

• Temporary Protected Status

• VAWA (Violence Against Women Act immigration-related benefits)

• U-visas

• T-visas

• SIJS (Special Immigrant Juvenile Status), including for Unaccompanied Minors

• Asylum

• Cancellation

• Removal defense

• Naturalization and Citizenship

• Employment-based immigration

• Federal Court representation

• Criminal defense, family law defense or any legal services other than immigration legal services